I just saw, on YouTube, a Nikon D5000 promo video where nine year old kids can use the new camera. Where? On the beach surrounded by splashing sea water! Not in my lifetime! I have yet to take my cameras near the sand, mortal enemy #2, and certainly not into the splashing seawater, mortal enemy #1. I believe that Nikon is trying to sell at least two to three D5000 per family, after the first two ones are destroyed by nine year old kids playing in the sand and ocean.

>Hi:>>I just saw, on YouTube, a Nikon D5000 promo video where nine>year old kids can use the new camera. Where? On the beach>surrounded by splashing sea water! Not in my lifetime! I>have yet to take my cameras near the sand, mortal enemy #2,>and certainly not into the splashing seawater, mortal enemy>#1. I believe that Nikon is trying to sell at least two to>three D5000 per family, after the first two ones are destroyed>by nine year old kids playing in the sand and ocean. >>Best Regards,>>Ramesses>

Relax ramesses. Best pictures are taken by my kid at the beach, with my camera...

Looks like a great camera to me. I think the image quality will be similar to D90, which is great. I was expecting a higher sync speed like that in D40 and wireless capability for Nikon flashes. It doesn't have those (1/200 sync speed and no commander function) but still looks great. The swivel LCD will be great for difficult angle.

Looks like an exciting camera! The tilt/swivel LCD with live view should make this camera the #1 macro camera in the entire Nikon line, and therefore an attractive 2nd or 3rd body even for people with a bag full of pro equipment.

Doesn't appear to replace the D40 though, which everyone thought it would. If this is priced between D60 & D90, then D40 & D60 maybe slide down in price, but still have their place.

A more interesting question is, where does this leave the D90? It's not that D90 has more features, just different features. To a traditional photographer, D90 offers a focus motor, DOF preview, exposure bracketing, etc, none of which means squat to a new buyer. The D5000 tilt/swivel display puts it in a class by itself, probably more desirable than D90, and the new AF-S Nikkor primes (which were a long time coming) really reduce the importance of the AF motor.

>I kinda expecting VR on the D5000 body like Pentax. It's not>happening I guess. Nikon makes much more money by putting it>on the lenses.

Though I'd love to have VR with all my lenses, it's a rather complex system. My only concern would be that if it was in the body and it broke, it could very well render the entire body useless (and make for a very expensive repair). At least on a lens you can just stop using the offending lens. Since I can't really afford (literally or figuratively) to have a body that suddenly becomes useless, I'll settle for VR in the lens.

By the way, if Nikon is not including an AF motor in the camera body (e.g. D40, D60), there's no way they'll add VR.

The advantage of VR in-lens is that the image is stabilized for both the image sensor and the AF sensors, which sit up in the top of the viewfinder. In-camera stabilizers don't stabilize the image in the viewfinder, or for the AF system.

For shooting birds in flight at very high magnification, you need a very fast shutter, so fast camera shake isn't so much an issue. But if you can't keep the AF sensor over the target, it won't matter, because AF won't be able to track the bird. VR is a huge help for this, maybe a bigger help than in stabilizing the image.

This explains why the systems used extensively by pros (Nikon & Canon) stabilize in-lens, even if it's not the most economic method from the point of view of the consumer. In-camera stabilization is really a gimmick feature for consumer-level cameras. At this time, it's not the right way to do it, although that may change in the future of electronic viewfinders and fast contrast-detect AF systems that use sensor data instead of traditional AF systems.

Nikon has again impressed me. I'm not looking at this camera as an experienced photographer, but as a dad who's grown daughter is looking at an (affordable) D60 as a way to graduate from a archaic P&S to more serious family photography. The point where my experience comes in is I'd like this in my bag with a 35mm f/1.8 AFS . For my daughter, I'd love to give her this camera; economy different and I would but sans the 35mm.

I think that Nikon has again slotted a camera into the existing lineup so it doesn't have to "replace" the ones currently in the post-production pipe-line. The current ones on the shelf still have their place and take-rate on this model may help make the decision on what falls off the production line - I'm sure they already have this figured out.

For the sensor wise consumer, there's now a D90 and a lesser costly D90, the D5000. The numbering is going to garner some attention over the sales counter as this is a break with the traditional.

I think the D5000 will have lot to offer the entry to mid-level consumer and there are some features I'd consider for myself.

Best Regards,

RogerIt is still ISO, aperture and shutter speed, right?"Nikonians membership - My most important photographic investment."

I agree with you. I was a Costco, a couple of months ago (utterly bored  wife shopping) and I stopped by the camera dept, looking at the D60. Some people were asking me questions if to get the D60 or D90. I could not emphasize enough the difference between the cameras, but one person opted for the D60 because of the $300 dollars difference. The D5000 would close the gap and as Thom Hogan said: The D90 got a Mini-Me.

I have the D300 + D700; therefore, I have no interest in the D5000. However, Im at the stage of my life that everyone around me  including me  is getting older. Who wants to take photos of old people! On the other hand, if this camera came out when I was raising my family with young kids, I might have gone for it (or the D90.) Video ability is almost indispensable to capture those moments in life  like the first uttered words  that are unforgettable.

Huh???? You can SHOP FOR WIVES at Costco? Are they any good? What is the store's return policy?Cheers,DavePS, don't tell my wife (who I found the old-fashioned way - I picked her up at a party) I posted this.

>Huh???? You can SHOP FOR WIVES at Costco? Are they any good?> What is the store's return policy?>Cheers,>Dave>PS, don't tell my wife (who I found the old-fashioned way - I>picked her up at a party) I posted this.

Hi:

Wife was shopping - I was utterly bored. She goes through every isle, item-by-item. After an hour of this, I always contemplate Seppuku. The D60 was a life-saver.

I don't know about the pricing over there, but here in the UK the body-only launch price of the D5000 is over £100 more than the current advertised price of the D90 at at least one well-respected dealer. With the 18-55, it's £40 more than D90 + 18-105. Something has to happen with the prices for the D5000 to have a chance of competing with the D90. Let's hope the D90's price doesn't rise!

>I don't know about the pricing over there, but here in the UK>the body-only launch price of the D5000 is over ï¿½100>more than the current advertised price of the>D90 at at least one well-respected dealer. With the 18-55,>it's ï¿½40 more than D90 + 18-105. Something has to happen with>the prices for the D5000 to have a chance of competing with>the D90. Let's hope the D90's price doesn't rise!>>Chris

Yes, the pricing is off for me. I have been looking for picking up a back-up camera with good ISO performance. Actually, mainly to get my fiancee to take up photography again.

However, with that little difference to the D700, I think I might go with the D700

Good point. I have no idea what is going on. The only thing I know is that Nikon might have managed to completely confuse any potential new consumer to the Nikon line of cameras. I can imagine the following conversation:

- I am new to Nikon cameras. Can you please advice about the different models?

- No problems. The basic Camera is the D40. The next step is the D60. However, they just announced the D5000, which is better than the D60 but not as good as the D90. However, you have the top of the line consumer cameras, DX format: the D300 and FX format: the D700. Of course, the pro cameras are the D3 and D3x.

- Sorry, but you said that the D5000 is better and he D60 but not as complete as the D90. How come? Isnt 5000 bigger and better?

WOW! I have been considering getting rid of the D80 and getting the D90. After looking at the specs on the D5000, it is a pretty amazing package for the price. The only drawback is the sync speed and the lack of a wireless commander mode, but I do have the SB-800s to act as the commander. Or maybe pick up a used SU-800 and still have the SB's for what they were designed to do, light 'em up.

I did not see or do not remember seeing is there a Auto FP High Sync on the D5000? Anybody know? I guess i can check again for that matter. Not a deal breaker by any means. The D5000 looks to be a step or two ahead of my current D80, small, light, many, many features. I just may go out and get me one. Looks like a great camera, seems as though Nikon has done it again, a viable alternative for the D90. Sometimes it's great not being a pro, you can just go out and get a camera based on its features, price and what you like, and not have to worry about FX, DX, my (expensive) pro glass won't work with it.

Oh, and movies to boot! Sounds better each time I look at it. Looks like a D5000 may be in my future.

>>WOW! I have been considering getting rid of the D80 and>getting the D90. After looking at the specs on the D5000, it>is a pretty amazing package for the price. The only drawback>is the sync speed and the lack of a wireless commander mode,>but I do have the SB-800s to act as the commander. … The>D5000 looks to be a step or two ahead of my current D80,>small, light, many, many features.color>

I'd be really careful about considering the D5000 as a step or two ahead of the D80. Depending on how you use your D80, you might find yourself missing a heck of a lot of features, not ones in terms of the quality of the pix that come out, but rather in terms of what it feels like when you use it.

For example:

The two viewfinders show approximately the same amount of the scene (95%), but the D5000's viewfinder is smaller. I think .78x viewfinder magnification would be quite a step down from .94x.

The D5000 only has one command dial. If you're used to using both the main and sub command dials on your D80, you'll find yourself digging into the menu more often than you're used to, and possibly changing settings far less often or missing a lot of shots as you do.

No built-in motor means your 50mm f/1.8 and your 70-300G lenses won't work. The 50mm f/1.4 AF-S and the 70-300 VR aren't cheap, as replacements go; or you could buy a Katz Eye focusing screen (when they come out; don't hold your breath! this is a brand new body, not an old body with new innards like the D60 was), and learn manual focus. Or not use those lenses on your D5000 — shame, those are nice lenses.

The D80/D90's battery appears to last for approximately 70% more shots. That's a lot of extra shots before you have to recharge or replace.

Lastly, small isn't necessarily better. Depending on the size of your hands, you might find that the D5000 is just too small for comfort! Especially if you're used to a D80.

And those are just the spec differences that would get on my nerves. You might have other issues that you care about.

For a huge oversimplification, I'd think of the D5000 as a D60 + Live View, movies, and lots of other great goodies, while the D90 is a D80 + Live View, movies, and lots of other great goodies. In lots of ways, if you use that old SAT style of comparing things:

>LaDonna, this is one thing that I think you got wrong. If I>got the specs correct, the D5k is very close to the D80 in>size.color>

I stand corrected! I looked again at the specs, more closely this time, and you're absolutely right. Approximately the same size as the D80 and the D90; bit lighter (with battery) than the D80 and noticeably lighter than the D90, but still in their weight-class. Chunky little geezer!

It appears that the extra heft (compared to its cousins the D40 et. al.) comes from the swivel screen. That makes it even thicker (from back to front) than the D80! A bad thing for people who like their SLRs tiny, but a very good thing for people with big hands.

wish they would have given it the 1/500 sync like the d40 for daylight fill, and nixed the video which in my opinion is useless. But, consumers want bells + whistles, so they got it with this one.The flip screen seems to be the weak link here. I can see plenty of them going back for repair. Would be nice for macro shots though.I'd be interested in a comparison between the d90 and d5000.This apparently doesn't replace the d40 or d60... but adds another camera line between the d60 and d90. From the specs though, I'd say it almost beats the d90 except in screen size and battery.

Not only this, but it seems now you won't have the option of a battery pack due to the swivel viewfinder unless you take the pack off, use the swivel, then put the battery pack back on.

>> Interesting features, although I think the 19 Scene Modes is overkill.....

I have a friend/photo client who bought a D40 or D40X on my recommendation (he was looking for something better than his P&S). Last time I talked to him about his camera he told me "that camera takes great pictures until I use something other than the scene modes". He, of course, understands little or nothing about exposure or any of the other intricacies that make up our avocation. He likely doesn't have the time to learn, although he's talked about "some lessons".

I would think that those scene modes would help a shooter like that, totally reliant on the scene modes, which is really the bread and butter of the "low end/entry level market", and I'm sure a feature Nikon uses to drag consumers into better, more advanced cameras (as does any smart marketer).

(I have no idea what all those mores do, I just have a fuzzy idea that are important for a lot of people like my friend, who is not the typical member here)

>I have a friend/photo client who bought a D40 or D40X on my>recommendation (he was looking for something better than his>P&S). Last time I talked to him about his camera he told>me "that camera takes great pictures until I use>something other than the scene modes". He, of course,>understands little or nothing about exposure or any of the>other intricacies that make up our avocation. He likely>doesn't have the time to learn, although he's talked about>"some lessons".color>

This describes my husband to a T. He keeps claiming to want to learn photography, but finding the actual time and motivation to follow up on his "interest" is usually slow in coming. Last week I showed him the scene modes on his D60, though (I hadn't bothered to show him, back when he was supposedly "learning photography") and whatd'yaknow? Now the D60 has been out of the closet more times in the last week than it had been in the last year. He's even asked me for, and visited, the DigiTutor site! He's lovin' it.

Just think what he'd do with "Hi-Key" and "Low-Key" scene modes. Next thing you know, he might even decide he needs a new lens.

Believe me, all ye shocked nay-sayers. Nikon knows what they're doing. It's a perfectly legal version of bait-n-switch: sell them a really super cool P&S and they end up with an SLR … and with any luck, all the new NEEEEEDS that come with it.

If you wanted to take a picture of food, you would set the camera up to do it, however you wanted. If you were relying on the scene modes, and Sunset, Portrait and Landscape don't do it for you, then what do you do?

Oh.... a food mode! How brilliant of Nikon! Sure glad I bought a Nikon !